Weekly Wanderings

Each week, I read a wide variety of blog posts and articles across the internet. I wander here and wander there and before I know it I’ve spent an eternity avoiding all the work that I should have been doing by reading other people’s writing. I share my favorites here with you each week in the Weekly Wanderings link round-up. Enjoy!

9 Skills That Will Help You Save Money – Hello Neverland. As we are in the process of buying a house – that will cost us $200 more per month than what we are paying in rent…due to insurance and taxes – thank you Hurricane Katrina…saving money is about to become a huge issue for us. I was just talking with Sweet Husband about how I wanted to start meal-planning, cooking on Sundays and having a plan for the rest of the week. SH is also ready to start doing some major woodworking projects, and I’m always looking to brush up on my sewing skills.

Four Guidelines for Summer Reading – Kylene Beers. Kylene Beers is one of my heroes when it comes to reading in the middle. Middle School is where my heart is always going to be, and I love these suggestions.

Getting Along Fine Without Me – Karen Maezen Miller. I’m still wrapping my head around this piece but I’ve had it open in my browser all week…thinking about it, letting it sink in.

When we try to imagine what it means to overcome our attachments, we picture cruel and unfeeling indifference. But that is never the outcome of overcoming attachments. That is never the outcome of accepting what happens. That is never the outcome of allowing people and things to be as they are. The outcome of non-attachment is love.

Stop Drinking Bottled Water – Alissa Walker for Gizmondo. I will buy bottled water when we are traveling, but for the most part, I don’t get it. I already pay for water. Why would I want to pay for it again? And as I find out more and more about the policies and impact of the companies who bottle water, the less likely I am to drink it. And as for liking it cold? Put a bottle of water in the fridge, for god’s sake. Which reminds me – I need to wash my glass bottle so I can start using it again. (& yes, I know hurricane season is right around the corner and our hurricane kit will need to have water in it. I plan to use jugs that we already have to fill with water…stick them in our freezer and get ready that way)

The After Myth – Lisa of CanNEOneHearMe. Sweet Husband and I have been talking about our health, and who we both need to lose weight. For our health. I know what my issues are and why I’m fat. I’ve explored them time and time again, but I’ve never really done the work to resolve them. This post is a great reminder that there’s no after. There’s just during and dealing with our stuff.

But really, can you judge how healthy a woman is by the thick, fleshy curve of her hip? Does being a size 12, 14, 16 alone really mean my days are numbered? Is this the only answer that matters? Those who want to judge are much more apt to assess my healthfulness based on the number on the inside of my bathing suit versus the number on the paperwork from my doctor’s lab — they believe the measure of a healthy woman is the measure of her thighs. Forget science. Forgo numbers. Screw you, doctor. It’s modern beauty we should worry about. This tells me all I need to know about this woman.

If you are into that sort of thing, if you are the type to make a judgment based only on what you see, then you are not really my type at all.

It’s your health I worry about. It’s not about the way you look. Oh, but it is. It’s about the way YOU look at ME.

5 Ways to Love Yourself Before You Leave the House Today – Smaggle. I think this fits nicely with the Scary Mommy piece. I particularly love #1. I’ve gained a few pounds, and right now most of my clothes aren’t comfortable. I’m looking forward to being home on the regular – which means time for walks along the beach, cooking at home, and doing the things I love – which fits nicely with #3…and helps me have clothes that are comfortable and fit.

21 Books from the Last 5 Years Every Woman Should Read – Nina Bahadur for The Huffington Post. Can you tell I’m ready to start reading? I may even set my Kindle up to check out ebooks from the local library this weekend because I’m that ready. How A Person Should Be & The Lifeboat look like contenders for #1 on my summer reading list.

New Ideas, New Directions – David duChemin. I think this sentiment is why I so love the Photo Friday link-up I host each week – for the simple fact that those photographers are so much better than I am. I’m inspired and I want to do better.

If you’re the most talented person in the room (whatever that means to you) then it’s in rooms where you are not remotely the most talented where you will learn and grow. It’s that idea of mastery being not a destination but a journey – the moment you think you’ve arrived you find that what you have in fact done, is stopped. Stagnated. Plateaued.

On Unplugging from Work & Embracing Adventure – Rowdy Kittens (thanks for sharing Jill!). I have a couple of trips planned this summer – one with my Sner and one with my other-in-law. I want to get a ton of stuff done with the blog before those trips because I want to be fully present in those moments; I don’t want to be worried about what’s happening in a place far away.

Trying for Fire – Christina Rosalie. She shares a beautiful poem this week. I don’t read a lot of poetry – don’t even think to. Almost always, though, when someone shares one, I’m struck by how lovely it is and think, “I need to read more poetry.”

Please, Help! – Infertility Thou Art A Heartless Bitch. I don’t think that fertility treatments were ever in our realm of expectation. I’m old. Using my eggs, IVF doesn’t have a very good success rate. But even if I weren’t old, it would have never been a serious consideration simply because there’s no way that two teachers can afford it. Even the medication – just a round of Clomid – nothing invasive – isn’t covered under my state employee insurance. Not even that little bit? And my doctor had to code my lab work differently in order to get insurance to pay for it. Ridiculous.

On Letting the Last Bits of Girlhood Go – Kelly Rae Roberts. This is an interesting and timely post for me. Kelly may be turning 40 next month; I’m turning 39. In many ways, I’m still a scared little girl. I’d like to step fully into adulthood and let all of that fear go.

The Poetics of Spinach – Rita’s Notebook. I love the way Rita puts this metaphor together. As I said early, I’m not a poet; I don’t think much in poetic terms. But I know that this business of creating is often one of rest and inattention – of letting it be so it can become what it will. I really love the idea of thinking of creation as extravagance.

You Can Always Make a Different Choice – Rosie Molinary. I was recently listening to someone talking about the changes she wants to make her life, and I started thinking about the changes I want to make in my life. It’s difficult for me to make things stick. But I can always make another choice.

Today, you can choose to not have an adversarial relationship with yourself any longer. You can choose to talk to yourself differently. You can choose to be more gentle with your expectations. You can choose self-care and self-kindness and self-acceptance.

The Secret to Being a Happy Classroom Teacher – Teacher Goes Back to School. While I think part of my problem in the classroom the last few years have been situational, I also know that a big part of my problem has been that outside of the classroom I haven’t been happy. It’s not rocket science, is it?

Consistently Feeling Happy – Your Courageous Life. I believe this. Consistency is no boring. Consistency allows us to manage our lives and its interruptions much more easily. It works in a classroom – kids like to know what to expect – and it works with our minds and bodies too.

Thanks Karen! It would be much easier to just list them (not to mention faster!) but I like to let folks know why I included the post…and they’re a bit more likely to click through if they get a little bit of what it’s about.

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I'm a teacher, writer, and photographer capturing the magical moments of life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast - putting my experience as a teacher and educational staff developer to work crafting stories that chronicle an experience well-lived.

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All content - pictures and text - unless otherwise noted, is my creation. All content on this site is the property of Jennifer Allen - Owner & Creator of Pierced Wonderings. Duplication and/or unauthorized use of any content on this site without express written permission is strictly prohibited.